Background

Investigating international labor and migration is a very important issue in order to address unfair wage practices and unsafe working conditions that expose unjust treatment to migrant workers, as well as many violations of basic human rights. Migrant workers are not working in unsafe conditions and are not getting treated fairly. According to the overview Working Conditions of Domestic workers on the ILO (International Labor Organization); working without legal protection from national labor legislation a lot of women are told to work over time doing hard jobs, confined to a workplace twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and are often victims of sexual abuse. The abuse of human rights plays a large part in international labor and migration. When illegal immigrants are brought into countries other than their own, they are often smuggled in. Sadly, the trafficking and smuggling of human beings is a highly profitable business (Facts on Labor Migration – ILO). The same article states that “migrants are often relegated to the “three D” dirty, dangerous and degrading – Jobs that national workers often reject or are not available for […]” (Facts on Labor Migration – ILO). This is due to the stereo-type of illegal immigrants in the United States of America. As Juan Somanvia, Director General of the ILO stated “Migrant workers are an asset to every country where they bring their labor. Let us give them the dignity and the respect they deserve as workers” (Somanvia – ILO). Migrant workers are human too. Just because they are from a less privileged country does not mean that they do not have the same rights as you and me. Providing each and every migrant with the respect they deserve as humans, as well as a fair paycheck and a safe environment to live and work in are the three main issues we need to solve in order to resolve the big issue that all three things add up to; international labor and migration

How is this affecting our world?

International labor and migration is a global issue because it is affects the economies of many different countries. When people migrate from one country to another, their home country is loosing skilled workers, but also gaining money when remittances are received. The main problem with this is people who migrate for work related issues are being treated unfairly. They are generally paid a lowered wedge and some of the jobs they are given are only seasonal, so some migrants must move around frequently just to provide their family back home with basic needs.

What is being done to prevent this issue?

Many different organizations are doing things such as helping build schools for migrant children, such as Compassion for Migrant children. Mercy Corps is another organization that is currently helping migrant children and their families. They have a program called the Decent Work Agenda, a program that makes is working towards making sure all workers have equal pay, safe working conditions, etc. Though there are two sides to international labor and migration. The positive affects being that international labor and migration are increased level of economy, decreasing the amount of poverty in some countries and also the migrants are learning about new cultures and learn new languages when they move. While the negative affects of international labor and migration are decreased level of economy if developing countries and loss skilled workers.
http://www.cmc-china.org/

Organization

Many different things being done to prevent this issue. Compassion for Migrant Children is an organization that works specifically in China and focuses on creating better future for migrant children. They currently have a group of volunteers that goes around China and builds new schools for migrant children and also educates teachers that work at migrant schools, as most migrant schools do not normally h ave enough money to get good and well educated teachers. Overall Compassion for Migrant children is a terrific organization and we plan to donate the funds we receive from doing our fundraiser to this organization so that they can continue their work for migrant children all over China.
http://www.cmc-china.org/

Sources

"About us." 01 31 2008 http://cmc-china.org/

"Facts on Labor Migration." 01 07 2006 1-2. <http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Factsheets/lang--en/index.htm>.

Juan Somanvia, Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO)